Multiple ampulla



Aug- 15, 1933- s. KABNICK MULTIPLE AMPULLA Filed Nov. 7, l1929 Ilarrfli.i.

STUART KAmcK Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED sTATEs PATENT orricEf",4

1,922,811 MULTIPLE VAlirPUinLAv Stuart Kabnick, Philadelphia, Pa.Application November-"1, 1929. serial No. 405,376

4 claims. (C1. 12s-272) Y This invention relates to improvements inampull `for use in theV therapeutic art and granted September 10, 1929,wherein different drugs or the like are maintained in separated relationuntil that time when they are to be mixed together.

Heretofore and prior to the invention disclosed in the aforementionedpatent resort had been had to various expedients .for maintainingdifferent drugs in separated relation preliminary to their mixture, thisbeing usually effected by storing each ofthe drugs in Van individuallysealed ampulla. In some instances, theampulla was characterized by theprovision o1 several compartments, usually two, separated by `a web orpartition of frangible material, the `drugs being individually sealedwithin the compart ments sorformed. In order to effect the desiredmixture of the drugs this frangible partition waspierced by means of aseparate tool, such as a rod or probe, inserted longitudinally throughthe upper compartment of the ampulla. In other instances, `the ampullawas provided with a lever operable to break the partition and so'alfordcommunication between the several compartments. Y

As in the Patent No. 1,727,987 already granted to me, it is among thegeneral objects of the present invention to provide a construction ofmultiple ampulla having the simplest possible means for effecting thetransfer `of the drug contained in one compartment into the nextadjoining compartment simultaneously as the compartments are separated.A more specific objectY of the present invention is the provision of astillmore simplified construction of multiple ampulla, the componentparts thereof being relatively so designed and arranged as to greatlyfacilitate the assembly thereof into a completed unit.

A still further object of the present invention i is to provideanimproved methodrof assembling r the several component partsof themultiple unit in consequence of which said unit may be manufactured notonly at a reduced cost'but much more quickly and expeditiously than waspossible heretofore. vOther objects and advantages of the invention willappear more fully hereinafter. L

The invention consists .substantially in the combination, construction,location and relative arrangement of parts, as Well as in the method fof assemblmg the same, all as `appears morejfully hereinafter, as shownin the accompanying drawing and as inally pointed out in the appendedclaims. In the accompanying drawing, which for purposes of illustrationand example shows one embodiment of the present inventiorn- V v 1 60Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of an outer member of a dualampulla constructedin accordance with the present invention;A

Figure2 is a similar vView of an inner member of a dual ampulla; 4 65Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view wherein the outer and innermembers of the ampulla are shown in assembled relation, lthe oppositeends ofthe ampulla being shown open or unsealed;

Figure 4 is a vieW similar to Figure 3 but shoW- 70 ing the ampulla ininverted position with the open end of the inner compartment sealed:

Figure 5 is a sectionalview corresponding to that of Figure3 showing thelower end of the ampulla sealed as Well as the manner of effectingseparation between the inner and outer members of the ampulla;

,Figure 6'vshows the inner section of the ampulla in longitudinallyspaced relation withrespect to the outer section thereof, the upper endof said innersection being open to the atmosphere to thereby permit thetherapeutic agent contained therein to flow freely for mixture ,with theagent contained in the outer section of the ampulla; and n 85 Figure 7is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of dual ampulla`embodying the principles of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing it will beobserved that thepresent ampulla is constructed entirely-of glassor other such frangibleand `fusible materialjandconsists. of an outer memberl andan innermember 11, the original forms of these members being shown in'Figures 1and 2 respectively. VThe outer member 10 is of 95 generally tubularform, the upper and lower ends of which are Vreduced somewhat indiameter, as at 12 land .13 respectively. Preferably, but notnecessarily, the upperend 12 of the member 10 is of a `larger diameterthan the lower end 13 thereof. The member 11 is also of generallytubular formthe rupper end 14 of which is open and Ythe lower end ofwhich is provided with ,an elongated hollow stem 15 of relatively` smalldiameter.V Thebottom end of this stem is sealed,

as at-116. i

Figure 3 shows the `members 10 and .-11 in assembled relation, itbeingobserved that the member 11 is telescopically received within the member410.] In order to facilitate the insertion liquid, powder,` pasteA orthe like.

which is receivable within the outer compartof the member 11 within themember 10 the maximum diameter of the former is slightly less than thatof the upper neck 12 of the latter. When the member 11 is properlypositioned within the member the stem 15 of the former terminates wellwithin the reduced end 13 of the latter and in this position the upperedge of member 11 is suitably sealed throughout its entire circumferencetothe upper reduced end 12 of the member 10, this sealing' being eiectedpreferably by melting or fusing the glass together, as at 17. It will benoted that while the upper ends of the members 10 and 11 are thus fusedtogether, as at 17, the stem 15 of the inner member 11 is maintained inspaced relation with respect to the reduced lower end of the member 10.Preferably, the elongated stem 15 and said reduced end 13 are arrangedin concentric relation. It will thus appear that an ampulla has beenprovided having two compartments, designated 18 Aand 19, arrangedinconcentric relation. Each of these compartments 18 and 191s adaptedtov receive a therapeutic agent in the form of a The agent ment 19 isintroduced through the opening 21 formedin the bottom end-or' theampulla.

When the ampulla is to be filled with the therapeutic'agents desired,one of said agents is introduced through the opening 2)l in the top endof the ampulla for reception within the inner compartment 18, this agentbeing designated a. The-open end 2O is then sealed, as at 21', (seeFigure\4) to thereby hermetically--seal the agent inI Figure 4. A secondtherapeutic agent b is then introduced into the compartment 19through-opening 21- whereupon-the'bottom endof the member 10 is fused tothe adjoining endL of therestrictedhollow stem 15 of the member 11, asat 22 (see Figure 5). When-the compartments 18-and19 have been sealed inthe manner just. described. the agentscontained thereinare hermeticallysealed from th'eatmosphere and from each-othenit being observed thatthetubular bodyof the member 11 together with its elongated stemconstitutethe partition or Web which separatesl the inner compartment18of the dual ampulla fromthe outer compartment 19 thereof. Thesealingof the opposite-ends of the ampulla is accomplished without subjectingeither of `-the therapeutic agents a and b to undue heat.

For a purpose-which-will be-apparent immediately hereinafter,=the outermember 10 is provided in-theouter portion thereof with anannularindentation 23. `The inner member 11- is likewise idented, as at-24, the Vradius of curvature of indentation 24 beingpreferably "greaterthanV that of indentation 23. l Provided in the externalfsurface of theouter. member -10 and located within the annular indentation 23-there ofis a-circumfer-entially extending scratch or incision 25. A smallerscratch or incision26is provided around the elongated stem 15 of theinner member 11 at a pointl located immediately above the joint 22ormed'when the lower-end thereof is fused or sealed to the loweren'd 13of member 10. With an ampulla constructed as just `described it is anexceedingly simple matter to eiect the necessary mixture between agentsa and h respectively contained within the com- -in- Figure 6.

partments 18 and 19. In order to establish communication between thesecompartments the iirst step is to break the member 11 away from themember 10, this break being facilitated by and taking place along theline of the scratch 25 formed in the external surface of the outermember 10 (see Figure 5). Simultaneously as this break occurs, the stem15 shears off, as at 27, this latter break being facilitated by thescratch 26, The inner member 11 may then be lifted longitudinally withrespect to the outer member 10 into substantially the position shown Solong as the upper end of the body 11 remains hermetically sealed, as at21, none of the liquid agent a will ow out of the restricted stem eventhough the body 11 is lifted free ofthe body 10.` Immediately, however,that this seal is broken, as at 28, the atmospheric pressure-at oppositeends of the member 1l will be balanced with the result that agent a willbe caused-toy flow freely out` of said member 11 throughthe-lower endofits stem 15v and into theV compartment 1917er Ymixture orintermingling-with the agent b contained therein.

By reason of the fact that the upper tubular portions of themembers 10and 11 are arrangedin telescopic relation prior to sealing the sametogether, as at 17, the upper portion of the ampulla, that is theportion immediatelyabove line 25 of breakage, is considerably'reinforcedand strengthened, thereby adequatelyy insuring thesame-against-iractu1`e when theparts 10 and l1l are separated along theline 25. The formationfof' the annular indentations 23 and 24 in themembers 18- and 11 respectively is such as to per-mit Athegreatestpossible angular movement of the inner member 11 with respect to theouter member' 12, thus assuring a clean break in the lower portion ofthe stem-15.

Figure-7 shows a modified form of dual ampullaY constructed inaccordance with and embodying the-principalfeatures of the presentinvention In this` modiiied form of ampulla an outer. glass member 29-isemployed having necks 30-and 31 at either end thereof. Nested withinthis outer member 29- is a` tubular member 32 the diameter of which issuchl as to permit the same to be passed freely through the bottom neck31 of the outer member. The upper end of theinner member 32 issealed, asat 33, while thelower edge thereof is adapted-tobeintegrally united,as-at'34, to thecorresponding end of the tubular member'29, thisunion-being eiected by fusing or melting the glass-together.y Y

Formed in the inner tubular member 32 adjacent the lower end thereofis'a constriction 35, The inner memberv 32 is filled with a suitabletherapeutic agent through the open end 36 thereof whereupon-said-openendis hermetically sealed in the usual-manner as-indicated by the brokenline 37. `The annular chamber 37' which is formed between the inner and'outer members islled through 'the opening 381provided in the upper-endof the member 29; When this chamber 37 is filled with the desiredtherapeuticl agent or a vehicle for the agent containedwithin the member32, the opening- 38 is hermetically sealedin' theV usual vmanner asindicated by the broken line 39.

It will be observed that the upper sealed end 33 of the innermember32sproject's upwardly within the sealedneck 30'of the outer member to anextent suicient to expose the upper extremity thereof when the seal139-is-broken; To effect communication between thefinterior'of vthe losnecessary to shift the inner member sidewards so that ity breaks off atthe constriction 35. The agent contained Within said inner member 32will flow freely into the chamber 37, this flow being materiallyassisted by breaking off the tip 33 of said inner member. To facilitatethe removal of the dome-like seal 39 a circumferentially extendingincision or scratch 40 may be provided in the external surface of theneck 30 of the outer member. A similar incision or scratch may beprovided, if desired, in vthe constricted portion 35 of the innermember.

It will be understood ,that various changes in the present invention maybe made from time to time without .departing .from the spirit orprinciples thereof and it is accordingly intended to claim the inventionbroadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful isz- 1. An ampulla comprising a pairof substantially concentrically arranged tubular. glass members, ahermetieally sealed circumferentially extending jointure between theupper ends of said members, and an eiongated hollow stem of reduceddiameter communicating with the interior of the inner of said membersand extending axially through an opening,r provided in the lower end ofthe outer of said members, the body of said outer member being ofgreater diameter than said inner member whereby to provide an annularchamber therebetween which is adapted to be iilled through saidlast-mentioned opening.

2. An ampulla comprising a pair of tubular members arranged one withinthe other, the inner of said members being of smaller diameter than theouter thereof whereby to provide an annular chamber therebetween andsaid inner member being constrioted in the lower portion thereof, thelower ends of said inner and outer members being integrally unitedtogether whereby to hermetically seal one end of said annular chamber,said inner member being adapted, upon movement thereof relatively tosaid outer member, to break oif at the constricted point thereof wherebyto eieet communication be' tween the interiors of said inner and outermembers.

3. An ampulla comprising` a pair of tubular members arranged one withinthe other, the inner of said members being of smaller diameter than theouter thereof whereby to provide an annular chamber therebetween andsaid inner member being constricted in the lower portion thereof, thelower ends of said inner and outer' members being integrally unitedtogether whereby to hermetically seal one end of said annular chamber,said inner member beine adapted, upon angular movement thereof relativeto the longitudinal axis of said outer member, to break off at theconstricted point thereof whereby to eiect'communication between theinteriors of said inner and outer members.

4. In an ampulla, a pair of irangible members of tubular form arrangednested reiation, the

lower ends of said members being integrally united together Vwhereby toprovide an annular chamber between said members one end of which ishermetically sealed, a constriction provided .in said annular memberadjacent the point of joinder thereof to said outer member, and meansarranged emlfracing relation with respect 'to the opposite end of saidinner member and constituting a hermetic seal for the corresponding endoirsaid outer member, said inner member beine; adapted, upon fracture orsaid last-mentio. seal, to be shifted angularly with respee to the oisaid outer member whereby to cause said inner member to break in theconstricted zone thereof.

STUART KABNCK.

